Latin American Masters presents, Art of Illusion, recent paintings by Gustavo Acosta (Cuba, 1958).  Gustavo Acosta is obsessed by the power of architecture.  As impressive as his cityscapes appear, they are empty of people.  Acosta’s deserted cities suggest the false promises of history, that revolutions and empires leave only their architectural remnants. 

Art of Illusion explores the architecture of Miami.  Acosta’s Miami is a real estate developer’s dream: bathed in turquoise light, graced with palm lined avenues and luminous skyscrapers rising ever upward.  Yet, all is not as it appears.  The lights are on in those luxury condos, but no one is home.  For all its shimmering surfaces, the city is little more than a ghost town, perfectly maintained and manicured, yet empty.  In a world where time seems to be rapidly accelerating, Acosta captures a fleeting moment, signpost of an era that has already gone by.  In Art of Illusion, we are exiled to a world, which we can look at, but never truly enter.

Gustavo Acosta has exhibited in important public institutions worldwide, including: Museo Nacional, Havana, Cuba; São Paulo Biennial, São Paulo, Brazil; Museum of Fine Arts, Caracas, Venezuela; Palazzo Mediceo, Seravezza, Italy; Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami, Florida; and El Museo del Barrio, New York.